Ugandan artists under their umbrella body, the Federation of Performing Artists Monday petitioned Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga over new regulations issued by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
The
artists are bitter that Government didn’t consult them before coming up with
the regulations.
Led by the Shadow Minister of Culture, Kato Lubwama, who also doubles as the
Rubaga South MP, the team asked Speaker to help them in streamlining their
industry, saying that they apparently belong to many ministries.
They also wants a Fund that will help them in the production of films and songs, noting that the costly venture has hampered the execution of their work.
Federation President, Andrew Benon Kibuuka told the Speaker that the new regulations in their current form are full of many loopholes which if ignored are likely to undermine the intended objective and rather oppress the artists.
“These regulations were and are developed by the different Ministries in which we apparently fall. The main problem about this is these rules and regulations are developed by people who are not artists and don’t understand a thing about the art we do. They may have faint ideas, but it would be better if they are developed by we the artists or at least a head who is an artist,” Kibuuka said.
The Federation also wants Parliament to ensure that artists are fully recognized at national level by dedicating a full Commissioner for Arts at the Gender Ministry as opposed to the current setting where artists are lumped up with traditional doctors and family affairs culture yet the industry is wide.
“We agree that there is a department of drama in the Ministry of Culture but we seek independence so we have an artist for a Commissioner because among other factors, our industry is really a big one and touches each and everyone in one way or another,” Kibuuka said.
The Artists also want the Legislative body to look into the confusion the drama industry is facing, with a number of Government agencies claiming a hand in the industry, with calls to have the industry under one body, arguing that at the moment, a number of entities are claiming share on the industry which has thrown the participants into confusion.
Kibuuka called for an independent Ministry to guide the industry arguing; “We are thrown into different Ministries who all have their rules, regulations and policies and expect us to follow all of them. All these Ministries impose different taxes and fines on the artists and we end up being demoralized by our very own and spending all we earn on these taxes and fines from different Ministries. We don’t know where exactly we fall because we find ourselves in the Ministry of ICT, Ethics, Trade, Tourism and Gender.”
Kadaga admitted that the artists industry is one whose resource haven’t ben harnessed, yet could reap so much revenue for the country.
We need to streamline it and start by speaking about it, later we can discuss whether to remain here, we take singing for granted yet it’s more. I will do whatever is necessary to make sure industry is recognized and organized so we give it the recognition it deserves,” Kadaga said.
